Well, here I am. I think. I took yesterday off from work because my throat was killing me. I must have inherited my Mom's bad sinuses. Normally it's not this bad, though. So, I went to the doctor and he prescribed Claritin D. Now I'm no doctor, but I felt like he didn't prescribe the right thing for me. he said it sounded like an allergy thing. He asked if I had a fever. I responded, "I don't think so..." He never even checked to make sure. Jeez, it's been more than 2 years since I've been to the doctor. And it's not that I dislike them, I just hardly ever get sick. Perhaps it's all the vitamins I take every day. That was just a little joke. My parents used to make me take vitamins and told me that I'd get sick if I didn't take my vitamins. I'll probably need those vitamins when I get old and frail, but for now I think I'm OK without them. :)
So, I'm back at work today, but feeling very disconnected. I feel like my head is in a fog. My right ear just now popped and I can finally hear out of it again. The drug has had pretty severe effects on me. I took it at around 1:30pm yesterday and within an hour or two, I was in a coma. I woke up when Olivia came home at 6:00 or so. I went back to sleep and woke up at around 8:00. By midnight, I was ready for bed again. Sleeping while taking this drug comes very easy, but it's a very weird sleep. I'm asleep, but sortof not asleep at the same time. Very strange. Let's hope this passes soon.
Posted by Jeff at May 29, 2002 11:37 AM
Comments
I hate that you feel bad, but this fog you're in keeps you off the computer more often! Heheheh
Posted by: Olivia at May 29, 2002 11:49 AM
The symptoms you mention are more common with allergies than sinus issues. Allergies can cause problems with your sinuses, but this sounds like an allergy thing.
Which actually, is really good news. Check this out:
If you've got the ear-blocking thingy, then the right nostril blocked (then 3 hours later it's the other one) thing, my experience is that it is allergy based and will pass in a matter of a day or two. This explains the casual attitude of the doctor. This time of year, you were probably one of 15 patients yesterady with the same exact symptoms. It's a shame they don't give more attention, but for them it's like working in a factory. The Claritin-D is a 24-hour powerhosue for me. It works wonders. It's competition is Allegra, which does a great job for others. Normally, if one doesn't work for you the other will.
Okay, now for my diagnosis (and this is based on personal experience.)
The sore throat is because the blockage is forcing you to breathe through your mouth when you sleep. The air gets pulled in and makes the back of the throat very raw (I had this at Hilton Head for a day). Post-nasal drip is a fancy name for "the junk slides down" meaning that as your sinuses drain, they pass by the throat. And when they go there AND the air's coming in full-force from open mouth breathing, the throat gets Really raw and uncomfortable.
The only thing to watch for is the vicosity and color of the snot. :) Clear, runny = good = will pass in a few days. Yellow/green/brown = not so good = sinus infection.
Also- if you end up getting a sinus infection, stop any antihistmaines you're taking. Sinus infections are nasty little bastards. (they wait at the finish line of bad allergy sessions with a cup of Gatorade for ya, so just when you think you've won the race, they're right there to smack you with a heaping jolt of reality.)
Things you can do while you wait for this to shake off:
~ Keep drinking fluids. Water is best, water-based liquids (Gatorade, lemonade, kool aid, etc) are fine too.
~ Whenever you think to, make sure you're breathing through your nose. This is hard to do if you're like me and don't normally focus on how you're bringing in air. Nose breathing doesn't give you as full a breath as mouth breathing does (at least for me) but trust me-- in the long run, all mouth breathing is doing is irritating the rawness.
~ Sleep never hurts either. Vitamin C is good for knocking out ailmens like allergies. Follow the Claritin directions as listed.
~ Watch out for dairy: (like cheese, milk, yogurt.) I know your'e a big milk fan, but kick the habit for a couple days. This'll pass much faster when you're not coating your system with all of that fatty snot lining.
~ Maintain regular blog hours. Your audience loves you and misses hearing from you when you disappear.
~ Quake often. I hear that helps.
Hang in there, Jeff. It's an uncomfortable ride, but it goes as quickly as it comes.
Posted by: Brian Korte, PhD. at May 30, 2002 11:05 AM
Good advice from Brian! Maybe he should go back to school for an MD degree!
Sorry you're under the weather, Jeff. And I'm also sorry for the lousy sinuses. I'd give anything not to have them myself. Hope you feel better soon! Come home and I'll give you some vitamins!
Posted by: Mom at May 30, 2002 10:34 PM
YAY! I was SO happy to read this. I was doing a search on Claritin D and this came along the way. Sounds like the exact probs I have been suffering with for a year now. Got 10 times worse when I moved into a new apt surrounded with grass and trees and such. Also, not much ventilation indoors. I took Claritin D yesterday around 2pm - for the first time - and it was the 24 hour kind. Hmm...kind of an interesting ride, I must say. The first 2 hours I felt like crap, the next few hours I felt like I was going to die or pass out - just really weird...and then for the next 5 or 6 hours I felt absolutly wonderful! No stuffiness, no head pressure...no dizziness...I felt really alert and it was GREAT. Well when I went to bed I had a hard time falling asleep. It was like the entire night I was asleep...but I wasn't asleep. It was strange. I woke up a few times with a slight headache. This morning when I woke up I still felt clear which was GOOD. (I always feel weighted down and horrible in the morning!) Around 11am it started to wear off. (Before the 24 hours was up) I thought maybe the 24 hour round the clock dose of Sudafed was too much for me, so I tried taking a 30mg Allegra. (I had received samples) I fell asleep and felt awful when I woke up. Like I was getting sick or something. It did nothing for my sinuses. So I went out and bought the Claritin 12hr and I will try taking it RIGHT before I fall asleep. If I can get a good nights sleep then I will take it again 12hrs later. Has anyone else had these stange experiences with Claritin?? Let me know!! Thanks for letting me vent! Is this site still up?
